The ultimate free-agent tracker - by position

Here is the free-agent class of 2009-10, ranked from Nos. 1 to 131. The rankings are based on a number of variables, including each player's history, age and potential, and are as much about predicted performance as market value, providing a general outline as free agency unfolds between now and spring training.

Bookmark this page and return frequently. As the offseason progresses, Yahoo! Sports will update it with news of signings and their impact on the other free agents.

Starting pitchers

2. John Lackey(notes), SP: SIGNED This time when Lackey yelled "This is mine!" it was in response to Theo Epstein handing him a contract that will pay him $82.5 million over five years to pitch for the Red Sox. Story

4. Aroldis Chapman, SP: SIGNED Based on potential for greatness, he's No. 1. Based on potential for calamity, he's No. 131. Lefties who throw 100 mph don't grow on trees. In fact, they don't grow but every 25 years or so, and here is this generation's. So it's understandable that the Reds signed him for $30 million over five years. Story

6. Randy Wolf(notes), SP: SIGNED The Dodgers did Wolf an immense favor not offering him arbitration. So the Brewers signed him to a three-year, $29.75 million deal without giving up draft picks. Story

7. Rich Harden(notes), SP: SIGNED The most dominant pitcher in the class, in terms of stuff and disabled list stays, Harden signed a one-year deal for $7.5 million with the Rangers, who hold an option for a second year at $11.5 million. Story

9. Andy Pettitte(notes), SP: SIGNED The steady veteran will be back with the Yankees for another year at a nice raise, getting an $11.75 million deal. Story

14. Joel Pineiro(notes), SP: SIGNED Found his mojo for a season with Dave Duncan in the secret lair where all the Cardinals' pitching miracles blossom. Parlayed it into a two-year, $16 million deal with the Angels. Story

16. Jarrod Washburn(notes), SP: Another Jekyll-Hyde case: Is he the 2.64 ERA marvel from Seattle or the 7.33 ERA disaster from Detroit? Somewhere in between, and that should be enough to get him a healthy two-year deal.

17. Ben Sheets(notes), SP: SIGNED No one, not even Sheets, knows what's left in his arm, but the A's took a chance, giving him a one-year, $10 million deal. Story

30. Brad Penny(notes), SP: SIGNED Thrived in San Francisco after a disastrous four months in Boston and landed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Cardinals that could grow to $9 million if he pitches 204 innings. Story

38. Justin Duchscherer(notes), SP: SIGNED Among the unlikeliest two-time All-Stars, Duchscherer missed last year recovering from elbow surgery, then was sidelined by depression. He rejoins Oakland as a front-line starter on a one-year deal. Story

39. Pedro Martinez(notes), SP: The old goat lives to bleat another day. Suitors are likelier to line up this year, too.

40. Doug Davis(notes), SP: SIGNED How a left-hander with marginal stuff survives walking a major league-high 103 batters is incredible. Then again, Davis beat cancer, so stranding runners is a picnic. Enjoy, Brewers fans. Story

41. Jason Marquis(notes), SP: SIGNED He pitched well – for a half, at least – in Colorado and kept his postseason streak alive at 10 years. That might be tough to continue now that Marquis signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Nationals. Story

42. Jon Garland(notes), SP: SIGNED Average stuff, average year, average innings-eater. The durable right-hander signed a one-year contract with the Padres worth $5.3 million and landed "in a place that I saw myself being." Story

58. Vicente Padilla(notes), SP: SIGNED One good month with the Dodgers is all it took to regain the credibility Padilla lost slowly during his four years with the Rangers. He's staying in L.A. for another year. Story

59. Carl Pavano(notes), SP: SIGNED He ended the year with a 5.10 ERA and gave up a major league-high 113 earned runs. Maybe that's why he took the Twins up on their offer of arbitration. Story

60. Braden Looper(notes), SP: Led the major leagues in three categories last season: starts (tied, with 34), earned runs (tied, with Pavano) and home runs allowed (nobody even close, with 39).

79. Jose Contreras(notes), P: The command remains elusive, but if Contreras turns into a reliever, as he did with Colorado at the end of the season, he could reinvent himself and extend his career into his 40s.

131. Chris Capuano(notes), SP: SIGNED Alert on a potential feel-good story: The former All-Star is attempting a comeback after two Tommy John surgeries by signing a minor league deal with the Brewers. He hasn't pitched since 2007.

Relief pitchers

11. Rafael Soriano(notes), RP: SIGNED Explain, again, why someone with 102 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings and a .583 opponents' OPS won't even retain his job as closer with the Braves? Soriano accepted arbitration and will come back on a one-year deal, but Billy Wagner(notes) will close. Story

20. Mike Gonzalez(notes), RP: SIGNED Among the game's most dominant left-handed relievers – if healthy – he signed a $12 million, two-year contract with the Orioles. Story

24. Jose Valverde(notes), RP: SIGNED The Tigers, desperate for a closer, signed Valverde to a two-year, $14 million deal with a $9 million club option for a third year. Story

25. Billy Wagner(notes), RP: SIGNED Wagner, 38, satisfied any lingering concerns about his health, signing a one-year deal to become the Braves' closer. The six-time All-Star gets $6.75 million in 2010 and the deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout. Story

44. Rafael Betancourt(notes), RP: SIGNED Betancourt proved near unhittable for the Rockies down the stretch and will return for one year after accepting the club's offer of arbitration. Story

46. Ryota Igarashi(notes), RP: SIGNED With a fastball that pushed 100 mph before Tommy John surgery, Igarashi is the hardest thrower to jump to the major leagues from Japan. He joins the Mets on a two-year contract. Story

47. LaTroy Hawkins(notes), RP: SIGNED Threw 84 1/3 innings with Houston over the last year and a half, and his ERA was 1.71. Not a bad get for the Brewers, who will pay him $7.5 million over two years. Story

52. Brandon Lyon(notes), RP: SIGNED Despite his predilection to walking hitters and allergy to striking them out, Lyon signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Astros. Story

53. Darren Oliver(notes), RP: SIGNED Playoff disasters aside, he's been a model reliever from the left side and signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Rangers, the team he began his career with 16 years ago. Story

57. Kiko Calero(notes), RP: Opponents hit .180 against Calero, the eighth-lowest mark among pitchers with at least 60 innings, and his one home run allowed was second in baseball.

62. Chan Ho Park(notes), RP: Another dynamite year as a reliever (2.52 ERA out of the bullpen) should once and for all cement his role.

64. Takashi Saito(notes), RP: SIGNED After signing 38-year-old Billy Wagner, the Braves signed 39-year-old Saito to a one-year, $3.2 million deal plus incentives to serve as set-up man. Story

68. Kevin Gregg(notes), RP: Too erratic to close for the Cubs. A perfectly palatable seventh-inning guy in a number of places.

80. J.J. Putz(notes), RP: SIGNED In spite of a horrible 2009 season and continued arm troubles, Putz got a one-year, $3 million deal from the White Sox. Story

90. David Weathers(notes), RP: Faded after his trade to Milwaukee, though if he wants to play as a 40-year-old, someone will bite.

92. Scott Eyre(notes), RP: Will return to the Phillies for a final go-round or retire.

94. Joaquin Benoit(notes), RP: Missed all of 2009 with a torn rotator cuff. Was an effective reliever – with an especially heavy changeup – before that.

102. Russ Springer(notes), RP: Came back to earth after two fantastic seasons with St. Louis and will at least receive a spring-training invitation if he decides to return.

103. Chad Bradford(notes), RP: It's sort of funny that a pitcher who throws no harder than an average high schooler missed the 2009 season's first three months because of elbow surgery. Anyway, he's healthy, and at least one team will take a nibble.

104. Jamey Wright(notes), RP: Maybe the most unassuming 14-year career in baseball history looks for a 15th.

106. Danys Baez(notes), RP: SIGNED Back, and quite successful at that, after missing all of 2008. The terrible strikeout rate remains worrisome, but the Phillies think he has at least two years left. Story

119. Joe Beimel(notes), RP: Really isn't that much better against lefties than he is righties – and he's not all that good against righties.

Pitchers

51. Brett Myers(notes), P: SIGNED Village idiot has talent and age on his side. Diminished stuff (a fastball down to 89 mph), injury history, big mouth and off-field stupidity cancel out the positives. He's agreed to a guaranteed $5 million from the Astros in 2010 if he passes a physical. Story

55. John Smoltz(notes), P: Is he a starter? Is he a reliever? Is he even pitching? While the 42-year-old's peripherals were excellent in St. Louis – a 40-to-9 K-to-BB ratio in 38 innings – his role and landing spot remain in limbo.

101. Kelvim Escobar(notes), P: SIGNED Missed all of 2008 and made one start in 2009 before shoulder injuries shut him down. Could start. Could relieve. Might not do either. If he pitches, though, jump him 50 spots, because he can be that good. The Mets apparently are willing to take the gamble. Story

108. Hisanori Takahashi, P: Starter coming from Japan hopes to find as much success as the last Takahashi – Mets left-handed reliever Ken, who followed up his solid 2009 by asking for a one-way ticket out of the disaster in Flushing.

130. Rich Hill(notes), P: Finished 2009 with a 7.80 ERA. Look on the bright side. He still has that curveball.

Catchers

43. Bengie Molina(notes), C: SIGNED Only 53 times this decade has a player exceeded 450 at-bats without drawing 20 walks. Molina did it for the fourth straight time last year, which is one reason the Giants signed him for one more year. Story

70. Miguel Olivo(notes), C: SIGNED Power (23 home runs) and game-calling abilities (AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke(notes) often credited Olivo last year) was torpedoed by a vomitous 126-to-19 K-to-BB ratio. Nonetheless, the Rockies gave him $2.5 million in 2010, and the contract includes the same amount as a vesting option in 2011. Story

71. Yorvit Torrealba(notes), C: Among the crème de la catching crème. The crème, by the way, is about six months past its sell-by date.

81. Gregg Zaun(notes), C: SIGNED The Brewers signed Zaun to a one-year deal with a club option that guarantees him $2.15 million to hold down the fort until prospects Jonathan Lucroy and Angel Salome are ready. Story

88. Ivan Rodriguez(notes), C: SIGNED A two-year deal for $6 million with the lowly Nationals might not be the most distinguished way to go out for a likely Hall of Famer, but he should get playing time and be able to mentor Stephen Strasburg. Story

113. Mike Redmond(notes), C: SIGNED Eminently employable because he fulfills the one similarity among every long-lasting, no-power backup catcher: He can talk with the best of 'em. Cleveland landed him for a one-year deal. Story

121. Jason Kendall(notes), C: SIGNED Kendall's career stats have him pegged as a possible Hall of Famer, according to Bill James' HOF Monitor. Now he's got a two-year, $6 million deal with the Royals to pad his numbers. Story

126. Ramon Castro(notes), C: SIGNED The White Sox re-signed Castro for $1 million over one season to again back up A.J. Pierzynski. Story

First Basemen

15. Russell Branyan(notes), 1B: The only thing that changed for Branyan last year were his at-bats. Given them, he hit 31 home runs. Those who can live with the strikeouts are rewarded with power at a reasonable cost.

22. Nick Johnson(notes), 1B: SIGNED When he stays healthy, he puts up a .290 average and an on-base percentage in excess of .400. The Yankees admired that resume enough to sign Johnson to a one-year, $5.75 million deal. Story

23. Adam LaRoche(notes), 1B: SIGNED Notorious second-half player heated up again down the stretch, good enough for a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Diamondbacks. Story

48. Hank Blalock(notes), 1B/DH: Still can hit home runs and play a passable first base. Years of injuries make him seem older than 29.

49. Carlos Delgado(notes), 1B/DH: Written off in the middle of 2008, he responded with a .303/.386/.606 second half. Does he have another comeback in his 37-year-old body – and will it happen in the AL, where his game is best suited?

72. Aubrey Huff(notes), 1B/OF: SIGNED Had a career season a year early. Now Huff is little more than a middling bat on the wrong side of his best days. He takes his bat to San Francisco for one season. Story

Second Basemen

34. Orlando Hudson(notes), 2B: SIGNED Lost his job at the end of the season to Ronnie Belliard(notes) and won a Gold Glove based on reputation. That said, he's still a consistent .800 OPS guy when healthy, a reason the Twins signed him for a one-year, $5 million deal. Story

35. Felipe Lopez(notes), 2B: Don't be fooled by the gaudy batting average. Lopez's .360 batting average on balls in play was among the game's 15 best and should regress.

63. Ronnie Belliard(notes), 2B: SIGNED Deserving of the 2009 Unrequited Joe Torre Man-Crush, hitting .351/.398/.636 in 24 games with the Dodgers, who signed him again, this time to a one-year, $825,000 deal. The team can terminate the contract if Belliard reports to camp heavier than 209 pounds. Story

83. Adam Kennedy(notes), 2B: SIGNED Bounce-back year – actually, bounce-back month of May, and average rest of the year – doesn't guarantee a starting job, but he should be able to get a major league deal somewhere. The Nats scoop him up. Story

Third Basemen

5. Chone Figgins(notes), 3B: SIGNED A Gold Glove-caliber third baseman with positional versatility, on-base acuity and true leadoff skills, he has agreed with the Mariners to a four-year, $36 million deal. Story

10. Adrian Beltre(notes), 3B: SIGNED He'll be lucky to get half of the $64 million he pulled down the last time he hit free agency. But $10 million for 2010 with the Red Sox is a nice start. Story

27. Placido Polanco(notes), 3B: SIGNED Solid, unspectacular. In other words, the archetype for this free-agent class. He agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal to return as a third baseman to Philadelphia, where he played from July 2002 through 2005. Story

33. Pedro Feliz(notes), 3B: SIGNED Solid fielder with decent power who doesn't reach base often signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Astros. Story.

66. Joe Crede(notes), 3B: Same old story: Wants to play in spite of back problems, and almost certainly will get a chance.

85. Melvin Mora(notes), 3B: SIGNED Faded hard after a strong 2008 season. Tough to blab about playing time when you slug .358 at a corner-infield position. Maybe the thin air in Colorado will help – Mora signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal. Story

89. Troy Glaus(notes), 3B: SIGNED His lost 2009 season and a steroid rap leave him with dwindling options, but Glaus signed a one-year deal for $2 million plus incentives with Atlanta. Story

Shortstops

26. Marco Scutaro(notes), SS: SIGNED It takes just one team to give a 34-year-old utilityman with one good season a multiyear contract, and that team is the Red Sox, who signed Scutaro to a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year. Scutaro likely will play shortstop, although Dustin Pedroia(notes) might move there with Scutaro playing second. Story

29. Miguel Tejada(notes), SS/3B: SIGNED Steroid user? Check. Perjurer? Check. Lied about his age? Check. That's some kind of a triple crown. But he can still put up a sparkly average and is willing to move to third base, so someone will employ him. The Orioles take him back, at least for one year. Story

56. Orlando Cabrera(notes), SS: SIGNED Well, his defense regressed significantly, his offense was as milquetoast as ever and he turned 35. The Baseball Twinkie survives nonetheless, signing a $3 million deal with the Reds. Story

82. Alex Gonzalez, SS: SIGNED The Blue Jays signed Gonzalez to a one-year, $2.75 million contract with a club option at $2.5 million for 2011. Story

98. Adam Everett(notes), SS: SIGNED Still an excellent shortstop. Still barely can hit his weight. The Tigers decided to keep him in the fold for another year at $1.55 million. Story

128. Khalil Greene(notes), SS: SIGNED Never recovered from anxiety issues, and between that and his diminished numbers, it's a surprise the Rangers gave him a major league deal worth $750,000 to serve as utility infielder. Story

Outfielders

1. Matt Holliday(notes), LF: SIGNED Which player is he: The Oakland disappointment or the St. Louis marvel? Here's betting on the latter. The Cardinals are making that same bet to the tune of a seven-year, $120 million deal. Story

3. Jason Bay(notes), LF: SIGNED Tall order for agent Joe Urbon: procure a five-year contract for a defensively limited corner outfielder who turns 32 this year. Of course, the guy can hit, and the Mets are happy to have him – to the tune of four years, $66 million. Story

13. Jermaine Dye(notes), RF: Production slowed a bit last year and you wonder if, at 36, it's ready to go all Wile E. Coyote off a cliff. A one-year, incentive-laden deal is the best route.

18. Mike Cameron(notes), CF: SIGNED The Red Sox signed Cameron to a two-year, $15 million deal. He stays in incredible shape and at 36 last year he banged 24 home runs, drew 75 walks and played his typical solid defense. Story

19. Marlon Byrd(notes), OF: SIGNED After a breakout season, Byrd joins the Cubs as a center fielder, agreeing to a three-year, $15 million deal. Story

21. Coco Crisp(notes), CF: SIGNED Primed for a nice bounce back after showing increased ability to take a walk – and his continued superlative defense. The Athletics recognized the value, signing Crisp to a one-year, $5.25 million contract. Story

28. Johnny Damon(notes), LF:Go here, click on the home run box and try to argue that the newfound power last year was anything but a new Yankee Stadium mirage. That said, as shown in the postseason, he can still grind out an at-bat – and make laughable throws.

36. Xavier Nady(notes), OF: Solid fallback option for teams that miss out on the Holliday-Bay sweepstakes – or simply can't afford to enter them in the first place.

67. Rick Ankiel(notes), OF: SIGNED Nasty crash with a wall derailed an already broken 2009 season and dropped him 40 spots on this list. The Royals take him for one year, $3.25M. Story

75. Randy Winn(notes), OF: SIGNED He hit age 35 last year and watched his offensive production take the clockwise trip into the sewer system. Fortunately, Winn's defense remained stellar, and the Yankees signed him to a one-year, $2 million deal to split time in left field.

78. Scott Podsednik(notes), OF: SIGNED Actually acquitted himself reasonably in the outfield – a troublesome endeavor in years past – and swung well enough to defibrillate his career. The Royals signed him for a year and $1.75 million, and the deal includes a club option for the following season. Story

84. Marcus Thames(notes), OF: Aside from one of his typical six-week-or-so hot streaks – in 2009, it was 10 home runs in 107 at-bats between June 8 and July 18 – he's little more than a right-handed power option off the bench.

86. Rocco Baldelli(notes), OF: Same situation as last year. He can't play full-time, so he'll find a team that needs a right-handed bench bat – and everyone, of course, needs a right-handed bench bat.

97. Garret Anderson(notes), OF: Bold prediction: He will not get more than 500 plate appearances again this season. Or ever, for that matter.

109. Austin Kearns(notes), OF: SIGNED Sign that things are bad: when the Nationals buy you out of your contract. The Indians signed him to a minor league deal, however. Story

112. Geoff Jenkins(notes), OF: Even if he can't score a major league contract, there must be some Brett Favre lookalike contests going on in Minneapolis this offseason to keep him employed. Right?

123. Brian Giles(notes), OF: Old (39 on opening day), with baggage (lawsuit related to alleged domestic violence) and coming off a brutal season (.191/.277/.271). Sounds like a recipe for a minor league deal.

Utility Players

12. Mark DeRosa(notes), UT: SIGNED The St. Louis experiment turned out something of a disaster – a .291 on-base percentage … yikes – but DeRosa remains a six-position salve that the Giants plan to use as they signed him to a two-year deal. One issue: He turns 35 in February. Story

54. Juan Uribe(notes), UT: SIGNED The power returned in 2009, and his versatility helps. That walk rate is uglier than a letter from the IRS, but the Giants re-signed him for a year at $3.25 million. Story

73. Fernando Tatis(notes), UT: Played every position but center field, catcher and pitcher and slugged .436 in his games at cavernous Citi Field.

74. Eric Hinske(notes), UT: SIGNED Three straight World Series and two rings to show for it, he's on his way to becoming the Marquis of hitters. The Braves signed him to a one-year deal. Story

76. Jerry Hairston Jr.(notes), UT: SIGNED Positional flexibility and occasional excellence (.326/.384/.487 in 2008) made him attractive to San Diego, where he joins brother Scott. Story

77. Jamey Carroll(notes), UT: SIGNED Gets on base and plays four positions. That's enough to merit a rare two-year commitment from the Dodgers, who will pay him $3.85 million. Story

91. Craig Counsell(notes), UT: SIGNED Slugged better than .400 for the first time since 2000 and played second and third base well enough for the Brewers to bring him back for one year at $2.1 million. Story

111. Bobby Crosby(notes), UT: SIGNED With a balky back and anemic bat, Crosby was worth only a $1 million, one-year deal to compete for the shortstop job in Pittsburgh.

116. Mark Loretta(notes), UT: RETIRED Called it a career after 15 seasons and will work in the Padres' front office. Story

120. Nick Green(notes), UT: SIGNED The Dodgers signed Green, who for a brief period last season seemed like the answer to the Red Sox woes at shortstop, to a one-year, $500,000 deal to provide insurance in case Rafael Furcal(notes) is again injured.

127. Robb Quinlan(notes), UT: It's a bad sign for a utilityman when his greatest value comes from his bat and he's coming off a .243/.275/.339 season.

129. Alex Cora(notes), UT: SIGNED Cora signed a one-year, $2 million deal to remain with the Mets, who have uncertainty in the middle infield because of injury and declining production. Story

Designated Hitters

31. Vladimir Guerrero(notes), DH: SIGNED Though he runs like a horse that needs to be put down, Guerrero isn't going by way of Mr. Ed. If he passes a physical, he'll be Ranger in 2010 for $5 million. Story

32. Hideki Matsui(notes), DH: SIGNED The World Series MVP signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal to become the Angels' designated hitter. Story

50. Jim Thome(notes), DH: SIGNED The power remains (.481 slugging percentage), as does the patience (.366 on-base percentage). Thome accepts a reduced role with the Twins. Story

65. Gary Sheffield(notes), DH/OF: Oh, Sheff. Always good for a delusional sketch of the world. Surely, if given reign over this list, he'd put himself in the top 10. And that is why we love him. Question is, will anyone else, even after he slugged .453 at Citi Field?

95. Andruw Jones(notes), DH/OF: SIGNED Three years removed from consistent production, Jones signed a one-year, $500,000 deal with the White Sox. He can earn another $1 million through incentives. Story